During the past three years as the Chairman of the Elks Drug Awareness Program in Montana, I’ve had many conversations with concerned and passionate parents and grandparents about their child’s addiction, substance misuse and how to know if their child is using.﻿

Here in Gallatin County, there are ongoing efforts by Bozeman Elks Lodge, Community Coalition On Drug Awareness, Gallatin County DUI Task Force, Greater Gallatin United Way, Montana State University Substance Abuse Free Environment Coalition, Missouri River Drug Task Force, and Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County to address the broad individual, environmental and societal factors that influence substance misuse and its consequences, to improve the health, safety and well-being of our communities.﻿ ﻿

During the past year, the Montana State Elks Association Drug Awareness Program strived to teach teens and parents about the dangers of illegal drug use and prevent the abuse of legalized and prescription drugs throughout Montana.﻿

Our community outreach included participation in the Amen Bozeman Free Clinic, Bozeman Health Annual Health Fair, Bozeman International Film Festival, National Night Out in Bozeman, Belgrade Fall Festival, Manhattan Potato Festival, Big Sky State Games in Billings, DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days in Livingston, and Tri-County Fair in Deer Lodge.﻿

Since its beginning in 1985, the red ribbon has touched the lives of families throughout our country as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.﻿﻿﻿﻿

The 2018 theme, “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage,’” is designed to draw attention to the many opportunities individuals, families, and communities have to educate young people on the dangers of alcohol use.﻿﻿

In 2017, more than 43,000 students from 360 public schools and private schools across the nation participated in the annual "Monitoring the Future" Survey.

According to the latest results, almost 30 percent of 12th graders reported using some kind of vaping device within the past year. And out of that group, a little more than 11 percent said they had vaped marijuana or hash oil.﻿

And with respect to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, when you vape THC, you can actually vape at a very high concentration. And the higher the concentration of THC, the higher the likelihood of addiction﻿.

Homelessness itself is a risk factor for mental and substance use disorders, given the many life challenges and disruptions that people who are homeless face: for example, stress, loss of social connectivity, increased threats, harm through victimization and exposure, and deterioration of health status.﻿

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) uses a five-star ranking system to rate the state’s efforts to encourage the adoption of proven countermeasures that save lives and prevent impaired driving﻿. The most recent ranking by MADD gave Montana 0.5 star and a national ranking of 42nd.﻿﻿

During the last several months, the Elks Drug Awareness Program in partnership with the DEA’s Community Outreach have been disseminating current and relevant drug information at community events to youth, parents, and educators, throughout Montana to increase their awareness about the dangers associated with using drugs.﻿

According to members of Congress and federal officials at a recent House hearing, a rise in trafficking and use of illicit fentanyl may constitute a "third wave" of the opioid epidemic in the United States.

Allow me to highlight some of the surgeon general’s report, “Facing Addition in America,” that was created because of the important health and social problems associated with alcohol and drug misuse.﻿﻿

Protecting our children from harmful drugs is a shared responsibility that requires effective community-based prevention programs that educate the community though awareness, acknowledgement, and action.﻿

Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous, both to themselves and to society, and is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational failure, alcohol overdose, unsafe sex and other problem behaviors, even for those who may never develop a dependence or addiction.﻿

All of us should be concerned about the life consequences that legal recreational use of marijuana will have on those who are vulnerable to becoming addicted to marijuana, especially youth users who are most at risk.﻿

﻿Families can play an essential part in stopping impaired driving. By talking about the risks and setting clear expectations, parents and other caregivers can help their children stay safe, sober, and focused on the road.﻿

All of us have a part in reducing the demand for drugs and encouraging a healthy, violence-free lifestyle that includes talking to our children about the dangers of drug abuse and setting a good example.﻿

Talking to our youth about marijuana use is not always easy, but it is crucial. Make sure they are well informed about the extremely potent forms of new marijuana products like dabs, edibles, and flavored e-cigarette cartridges that are being marketed toward young users.﻿

The Elks are committed to eliminating the use and abuse of illegal drugs by all members of society and believe that in order to ensure a bright future for our country, it is essential that our children be raised in a drug-free environment﻿.

As marijuana for medical and/or recreational use gain greater acceptance in our society, it is important to remind teens that smoking marijuana may have affected their view and experiences of reality, and their judgment.﻿

All of us should be concerned about the life consequences that legal recreational use of marijuana will have on those who are vulnerable to becoming addicted to marijuana, especially youth users who are most at risk.﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿

Elks believe that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. With that in mind, the Elks Drug Awareness Program reaches out to youth of all ages and backgrounds.﻿